LONDON (AP) — British police stated they have been analyzing movies of a band that led chants of “demise to the IDF” — Israel Protection Forces — on the Glastonbury Pageant.
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds attending the pageant on Saturday in chants of “free, free Palestine” and “demise, demise to the IDF.”
Bob Vylan performs on the West Holts Stage, in the course of the Glastonbury Pageant at Worthy Farm in Somerset. England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Yui Mok/PA by way of AP)
Avon and Somerset Police stated that it was conscious of feedback made by acts on the pageant, and stated officers will evaluation video proof “to find out whether or not any offenses might have been dedicated that will require a legal investigation.”
Irish-language rap group Kneecap additionally carried out Saturday regardless of a terror cost for one among its members over allegedly supporting Hezbollah, main an enormous crowd in chants of “Free Palestine.”
The Israeli Embassy to the U.Ok. stated on social media that it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage on the Glastonbury Pageant.”
Well being Secretary Wes Streeting on Sunday condemned Bob Vylan’s actions as “appalling.” He instructed Sky Information that the BBC and pageant organizers needed to reply questions on how the feedback have been broadcast dwell to tens of millions.
Nevertheless, he additionally urged Israel to “take the violence of their very own residents in direction of Palestinians extra severely” when requested in regards to the Israeli embassy’s condemnation of the band’s actions.
The minister referred to the continued humanitarian disaster in Gaza and “the truth that Israeli settler terrorists attacked a Christian village this week, setting it on fireplace,” and urged Israel to “get your individual home so as.”
The federal government stated its tradition secretary has spoken to the BBC director common about Bob Vylan’s efficiency.
The BBC stated it issued a warning on display screen about “very sturdy and discriminatory language” in the course of the dwell stream.
Glastonbury is Britain’s largest summer time music pageant and attracts some 200,000 music followers every year to Worthy Farm in southwest England. Nearly 4,000 acts carry out on 120 levels.
Irish rap group Kneecap performed for a giant Glastonbury crowd as opinions on their political stance and performing have been mentioned. (June 28)
Pageant organizers stated on Instagram that Vylan’s chants “very a lot crossed a line.”
“We’re urgently reminding everybody concerned within the manufacturing of the Pageant that there isn’t any place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
“With nearly 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there’ll inevitably be artists and audio system showing on our levels whose views we don’t share, and a performer’s presence right here ought to by no means be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs,” it stated.
Bob Vylan’s two members each maintain their actual names secret for privateness causes. Based in 2017, the band has launched 4 albums.
Kneecap, which has drawn criticism over its feedback on Center East politics, additionally gave an impassioned efficiency for tens of 1000’s of followers.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs underneath the stage title Mo Chara, has been charged underneath the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed group for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a live performance in London in November.
The rapper, who was charged underneath the anglicized model of his title, Liam O’Hanna, is on unconditional bail earlier than an additional court docket listening to in August.
The group has been underneath scrutiny since movies emerged allegedly exhibiting the band shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and calling on folks to kill lawmakers.
On Saturday band members led the viewers in chants of “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo Chara.” Additionally they aimed an expletive-laden chant at U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has stated he didn’t assume it was “acceptable” for Kneecap to play Glastonbury.
Rod Stewart, Olivia Rodrigo and The Prodigy are amongst acts taking part in Sunday for Glastonbury’s last day.